Lt. Paul Johansen stands in front of a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in Alaska.

Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty: Lt. Paul Johansen

It’s a story that sounds as if it were pulled right from the movies. High winds, rough seas, a rescue helicopter low on fuel and a crew determined to save a life. But the danger was real for the Kodiak, Alaska-based Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew on a mission to save the life of a cargo vessel crewman.


2016 American Legion Spirit of Service recipient Petty Officer 2nd Class Geneva L. Cornelius, USCG speaks during the General Session of The American Legion 98th National Convention at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Tuesday, August 30. Photo by Lucas Carter/The American Legion

Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty: Petty Officer Geneva Cornelius

Petty Officer 2nd Class Geneva Cornelius actively participated in over 50 unit and local community events during her time in Kodiak, Alaska, dedicating countless hours during her off time to community service and enthusiastically pursues more opportunities to help others where ever she is. Her giving spirit has brought resources, services, joy and light to countless lives, yet Geneva Cornelius has cracked the code that helping others in turn helps you find true happiness.


Crewmembers from Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore work on an aid to navigation buoy during an Arctic deployment, Oct. 8, 2015. During the patrol, the crew strengthened Arctic partnerships in the Yakutata, Hooper Bay and Point Hope villages, serviced aids to navigation beyond their normal area of responsibility and provided a Coast Guard presence in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. U.S. Coast Guard photo

Coast Guard Foundation Alaska Award: Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Sycamore received the Coast Guard Foundation Alaska Award at the Alaska Coast Guard Foundation Dinner in Anchorage, Alaska, Aug. 10, 2016. Cmdr. James Jarnac, Chief Warrant Officer Joshua Clegg, Chief Warrant Officer Jason Scott and Seaman Tyrell Miranda received the award on behalf of the Sycamore crew.


Petty Officer 3rd Class Dale Arnould poses in front of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, where he was stationed from 2012 to 2015 in Kodiak, Alaska. Arnould was the assistant public affairs officer and documented the crew and ship's operations.

Leaving a lasting legacy

As you walk through the passageways, mess deck and wardroom of Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, you will see nicely framed photos of the cutter, crew, operations and training that look like they came from a recruiting poster or an art gallery – they came from neither. Petty Officer 3rd Class Dale Arnould, an operations specialist stationed aboard the Alex Haley from 2012 to 2015 is the man behind the camera in each of the photos.